Chapter 3

[Sandals]

In one corner of the stable I found a pair of sandals, I had to wear them by tying a knot around my leg.

[ Kaga Michio

<Male*Age 17>

Villager: Level 1

Thief: Level 1

Equipment: Holy Sword Durandal, Ring of Determination, Sandals]

Sandals are considered equipment, whereas my track suit isn't. Equipment can modify themselves as per the wearer's size as they contain magic. Wearing sandals which weren't mine also netted me into gaining the job Thief.

I mentally click on Villager and Thief.

[Villager

Effect: Increase Endurance (slight)

Skill: None]

[Thief

Effect: Increase Agility (slight)

Skill: None]

Both are important jobs. Then I open my newly obtained level reward system, which had that unread red dot notification on it again and click it.

<Thief: Level1 reward

Accept: Yes No >

My inference was correct, every new job would give me a reward. I mentally click yes.

<Basic Thief Pack acquired>

Again just like last time, there was a click in my brain and I felt like I remembered things which were forgotten. I think I gained some tips and tricks to stealth, to pickpocket, to pick a lock.

This time I became sure of it, these packs function like passive memories, as if they were always there. But this pack felt shabby, I don't know if it's because of the low level or thief being a basic job. I hope with higher levels I get better things.

With Durandal in my hand, I go near the door of the stable and hide perfectly on the side and get a glimpse outside. The thief abilities became an instinct already.

Outside it's still early morning, the sun isn't even fully out yet. I could see houses made of wood with vegetable gardens in the back, farms extending towards east in the direction of the rising sun and in the north is a forest.

It looks like a typical peaceful village, dozens of people have already started doing their jobs. Through appraisal I can even see their names, age , jobs and levels even if they are far away.

[ Male*Age 42 Villager Level 15]

[ Male*Age 17 Villager Level 5]

[ Male*Age 38 Farmer Level 5]

[ Male*Age 32 Villager Level 14]

[ Male*Age 35 Villager Level 25]

The last middle aged man was the only high level person in this whole village, he did look very muscular. I could even hear some conversations from here and as I suspected I can understand what they are saying.

That language pack was really a life saver. As said in the original story, Villager is like a default job which can be changed easily.

[Somalla

<Male*Age 68>

Village Chief: Level 8]

There is the old village chief Somalla, of this Somalla village.

Knowing I don't have much time I calm my breathing and open the character reset page.

Required Exp(x1/3): 7

Exp Gain (x3): 7

I reduce both exp gain and required exp from 5 to 3 gaining extra 16 bonus points. And add all those points into agility.

Inside the stable I do some warmup exercises. Seriously, it feels like a lifetime ago when I did this. I even jog a little inside the stable with the horse as my audience.

Standing, running, not feeling helpless, Oh I have missed this dearly.

And these agility points are really worth it, despite being in a closed space I feel like I am gliding. I used to play soccer before but still I have never felt this amazing.

Suddenly I start hearing shouts from outside, I go beside the door and hear people screaming 'thieves'. I look outside and see people gathering just ahead of the stable I am staying at near the edge of the village.

I see all the villagers hurrying and shouting carrying swords and hoes. In the distance, in the east I could see a different group of people coming towards the village aggressively.

[Thief Level 7 Equipment: Copper Sword, Leather armour, Leather shoes]

[Thief Level 11 Equipment: Copper Sword, Leather armour, Leather shoes]

[Thief Level 4 Equipment: Copper Sword]

[Thief Level 19 Equipment: Copper Sword, Leather armour, Leather shoes]

There were like twenty of them and in front of them all their leader. He looked like a big middle aged man wearing a black bandana with shinier armour than them all.

[Hugo <Male*Age 38>

Thief: Level 41

Equipment: Iron Sword, Iron Armour, Leather Shoes, Thief's Bandana]

A Level 41 mini boss, with a level 19 and level 11 micro bosses. In front of them now stood all the villagers ready, even the level 8 village chief came out.

The only one among them who could even contend with this Hugo was the middle aged Level 25 villager who stood in the centre.

From the moment I realized where I was, I knew about this thief raid, even about this thief Hugo, about this middle aged villager and both their individual backstories.

This was the first hurdle the original Michio crossed. At that time even though he took this world as a game it was still very dangerous. He just didn't know that everything was real.

In contrast I have 2 major weak points right now. First I have never practiced Kendo before, this is even my first time holding a sword. Second, I know that this is real and it's not a game.

But the second point is also my advantage, as there is no way in hell I am losing my second chance. This raid is quintessential for me. I grip the sword hard and take a deep breath waiting patiently for my chance.

As soon as the thieves reached the village they started attacking. Most of the people were single leveled and so at the end of the day it all came down to skill.

The villagers too counter attacked clashing with the thieves. There were shouts and curses thrown with swords clashing.

But my whole concentration was on the fight between the level 41 Hugo and the level 25 middle aged man. Hugo was way above his level and easily dominated the fight.

Hugo threw the man down, the middle aged man tried to move his arm while on the ground but Hugo easily caught his hand wielding the sword and he stabbed the middle aged man through the gap in his armour.

Both of them had their full attention on each other with Hugo trying his best to push the middle aged man's hand back and draw his sword further into his body.

At that moment I saw a straight path to Hugo who was kneeling on the ground exposing his unguarded neck. Without any hesitation I raised my Durandal above my head and with my full speed I ran straight towards him.

Before any of the surrounding thieves could register what happened I was behind Hugo. I pushed my whole strength forward in this slash.

My Durandal came straight down towards his neck and in a second the head went down and red blood spurted out like a firework from his remaining neck.